A new genus of ambrosia beetle from Melanesia (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini).

A new genus of xyleborine ambrosia beetle, Melanesicus Beaver Petrov gen. n., with type species Xyleborus partitus Browne (1974) is described from the Melanesian region. The following new combinations are proposed: M. caledoniae (Beaver Liu, 2016) comb. n., M. deformatus (Browne, 1974) comb. n., M. granulosus (Schedl, 1975) comb. n., all from Xyleborus Eichhoff, 1864. Melanesicus tishechkini Petrov sp. n. is described from Vanuatu, and Melanesicus nukuruanus sp. n. Beaver from Fiji. The taxonomy, distribution and biology of the species included are briefly reviewed.